Bluff Spring Journal
April 2006
April 1st , 2006
This has to be one of the best wildflower years ever. It seems that everywhere you look the glens are carpeted with wildflowers. The hardest decision is to walk by what seems to be an excellent photographic opportunity or go on to what you know is going to be more and more beautiful flowers.
This Ozark Wake Robin had a mixture of pink and white that was even more beautiful in person. I ended up spending more time laying on the ground than I did standing up. The world looks significantly different from ground level. You get a sense of the largeness of the forest as it looms above you. You also realize that there are a lot of little critters crawling in amongst the leaves and flowers.
As I photograph I have always tried to follow the rule of turning away from my intended subject and carefully looking around at what I am not photographing. I always discover a different perspective that I would have missed if I had just packed up my gear and went on to the next subject. Today was no exception. As I finished up with the Wake Robin I turned to see this delicate little flower.
I have not identified this little flower. And I do mean little. You could cover the whole flower with a dime and it was about 4 inches off the forest floor. I was trying out a new stabilization bag and was glad to find out that it worked perfectly.
Purple Trillium from above and from the side
Purple Iris
All of these photos were within 50 feet of the Wake Robin. Two hours flew by in hurry. It seemed as if time was suspended and replaced with a subtle space of wonderment.
April 09, 2006
You should sometimes revisit the usual to discover again why you were originally captured by that 1st sight. Hawksbill Craig or Whitaker's Point is probably the most photographed piece of rock in all of Arkansas. The first time I visited this sight I hiked in during the darkness and captured the sun rising above the Craig with a back drop of clouds filling the valley below.
My first Hawksbill photograph
Today my lovely bride and I set out to see this old friend again and we were still amazed by the beauty of the scene. The sounds of the Buffalo River running below added to the peacefulness as we just hung out on the Craig soaking in the sun, sights and sounds of this still beautiful vista. Of course I couldn't bear not having a photograph, so I set up the timer and joined my lovely bride for a Hawksbill moment.
You can see in the background that the trees are starting to put on their spring foliage. The hills are a patch quilt of several different shades and hues of green. The Redbuds are going strong and the Dogwoods are coming on fast. The next few weeks promise to be a show you won't want to miss. As for me, I plan to get out and visit the 'usual' more often.
April 18th
Dogwoods abloom everywhere! I don't think I've ever seen the Dogwoods so thick in blooms. Probably because the winter was mild and the trees were unharmed by harsh temperatures. It's a delight to just drive around and see all the white and pink dashes of color amid the trees that have not fully leafed out yet
I had to make a trip to Jefferson City, Mo on business and was glad to be able to take a picture of the state tree and the state capitol building.
Missouri's state capitol building ranks in my top five of all the capitols in the US. The limestone marble that was quarried to construct this beautiful building is from Carthage Missouri. The dome rises 238 feet above ground level and is topped by a bronze statue of Ceres, the goddess of vegetation. She seems to be looking out for the Dogwoods this year!
April 22, 2006
Best laid plans sometimes just don't pan out. We had high hopes of hiking into Hawksbill Craig this morning before sunrise and watching the meteor shower that was to happen in the Northern and Eastern sky. The Lyrids Meteor was supposed to put on a show in the hour before dawn but must have been a little shy as we only saw one meteor and that was on the drive to the craig. But you know, it really didn't matter. As dawn approached, we sat high atop the bluff and just enjoyed the experience of nature waking up from a night's rest. We listened to Whippoorwills as they announced the dawn. Their lonesome sound reminded me of nights on my grandfather's farm as I laid snuggled in a feather bed with an open window that let me experience all the sounds of a country farm. Next, we heard owls hoot as they answered each other from across the valley-their tandem voices responding in a call and response of affirmation.
The calls may have been territorial - warning others to stay away, or it could have been to contact a mate or young, or advertise their availability for romance. I prefer the latter as my lovely bride and I enjoyed each other's quiet company as the sun slowly woke up the valley.
Hawksbill Sunrise
Spending time with my lovely wife was well worth the trip. Even if the meteors didn't show.